Evolving from a standards-based jazz band formed in 2010 into a collective free improv band of great depth and complex rhythmical approach, with an innate lyrical sense garnered from their roots, the Puerto Rican trio of alto saxophonist Jonathan Suazo, guitarist Gabriel Vicéns, and drummer Leonardo Osuna present a double album of spontaneous composition and sophisticated conversation.
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Sample The Album:
Jonathan Suazo-alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, EWI
Gabriel Vicens-electric guitar
Leonardo Osuna-drums
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UPC: 195269202187
Label: Setola Di Maiale
Catalog ID: SM4490-4500
Squidco Product Code: 32700
Format: 2 CDs
Condition: New
Released: 2022
Country: Italy
Packaging: Digipack - 8 panel
Recorded at El Padrino Recording, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in August, 2021, by Julio Gonzalez.
"No Base Trio releases their spectacular and completely improvised works in their second studio album, "NBT II." The experimental ensemble continues its musical journey by releasing this immersive double album under the radical label Setola di Maiale.
Following their 2020 critically-acclaimed eponymous debut album, Setola di Maiale proudly presents Puerto Rico-based experimental ensemble No Base Trio's latest recording, "NBT II." This album features a collection of intuitively powerful, fully-improvised works that shine with creativity and push the trio in imaginative and unpredictable ways.
This brilliant ensemble has been working together for over 12 years, and their unique chemistry is unquestionable in their new studio recording, as it was already experienced in their debut album. No Base Trio was founded in 2010 by a group of Puerto Rican musicians who desired to explore beyond the predictability of most written music and found that by creating entirely improvised compositions, the possibilities were boundless and full of surprises.
The mesmerizing music on "NBT II" was recorded the day after a well-received concert at El Bastion in Old San Juan, a cultural center dedicated to developing multiple art disciplines in Puerto Rico.
"NBT II is a continuation of our first release, as our group's focus is the spontaneous creation and development of compositions, right on the spot. Whether in live performances or recording in the studio, we don't talk about what we will play and we don't have a predetermined program. In that way, our approach is always the same, but it's also always brand new. Naturally, because of all these years playing together, we know each other very well which has built a lot of musical trust and understanding. That understanding of one another's musical instincts and personalities is one of the critical components in our ensemble. Our individual musical backgrounds and aesthetics combine to create the sound of the band, which is hard to define as one genre other than the all-encompassing description of free improvised and experimental music. It's all about listening to each other, being in the moment, and taking chances."
NBT is formed by alto saxophonist Jonathan Suazo, guitarist Gabriel Vicens and drummer Leonardo Osuna. Their music is characterized by carrying many influences coming from jazz, rock, ambient, noise, electronic, and metal. At the same time, the musicians have created a distinctive voice as a group that defines the sound of No Base Trio. Listeners are encouraged to be open-minded and listen to how sounds and grooves converge, creating a remarkable sound world full of energy and surprises."-Setola Di Maiale
The Squid's Ear!
Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for Jonathan Suazo "Jonathan Suazo: Born and raised in Puerto Rico (July 8th 1989), Jonathan got interested in the arts very early in life. His father was a Graphic Designer/Saxophonist that always had a great love for the arts. These passions rubbed off on young Jonathan as he grew interested in photography, paintings and of course, music. He picked up his dad's instrument at the age of 12 right before starting his studies at the "Escuela Libre de Música Ernesto Ramon Antinini" in San juan, where he graduated from with a growing interest for Jazz music. He then Went along to form part of the Jazz department at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico where he really started to dig into the music on a much more serious level. While in the Consevatory, Jonathan received numerous scholarships from Berklee Collage of Music by attending the summer camps that they offer in Puerto Rico every year; Jonathan decided it was best to stay at the Conservatory in Puerto Rico where he graduated from with honors thanks to the teachings and guidance of great teachers like: Marco Pignataro, Rafael "el Indio" Martinez, Ricardo Pons and Mariano Morales. Throughout the years, Jonathan has been making a name for himself in the Puerto Rico Jazz scene, releasing his first album as leader ("Extracts of a Desire" -SUAZOJAZZ- febuary 19, 2013) and leading his quintet in the most important Jazz event in the Caribbean "The Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz fest" (march 22, 2013); Suazo has also shared the stage with great artist such as: Paoli Mejias, Tony, Escapa, Eddie Gomez, Luis Aquino, Miguel Zenón, David Sanchez, Charlie Sepulveda and many others. Jonathan's music can be described as "Very emotional" with an Afro Caribbean/ Rock/Experimental vibe to it. He seeks to transmit energy, life experiences, feelings, and ideals through his compositions.." ^ Hide Bio for Jonathan Suazo • Show Bio for Gabriel Vicens "Critically acclaimed guitarist and composer Gabriel Vicéns has been described as "a thoughtful improviser with a quiet tone who makes every note count" by Downbeat Magazine and as "an exceptional artist, with a shimmering sense of sonority and the ability to find a keen balance between poetry and intensity" by Latin Jazz Network. Originally from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Vicéns relocated to New York City after more than a decade of performing and recording with his group and other top artists from the Puerto Rican jazz scene and a four-year professorship at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Vicéns has been featured at venues and festivals such as Heineken Jazz Fest in Puerto Rico, SF Jazz Center in San Francisco, Ljubljana Jazz Festival in Slovenia, Uno Jazz San Remo Festival in Italy, and Havana World Music Festival in Cuba. He has worked with artists such as Eddie Gómez, Miguel Zenón, Alex Sipiagin, John Benitez, Paoli Mejias, Luis Perdomo, David Sánchez, and Will Vinson, among others. In New York, he has frequently performed at prominent venues such as The Cell Theater, Cornelia Street Cafe, Birdland Jazz Club, Teatro LATEA, Fat Cat, The Owl Music Parlor, and Terraza 7, both as a leader of his groups and as a sideman. His debut album "Point In Time," independently released in 2012, features tenor saxophonist David Sánchez and legendary bassist Eddie Gómez who praises Vicéns as "a creative musician that displays a new vision on the guitar." The release gained rave reviews in many jazz publications around the globe. World-renowned jazz critic and writer Bill Milkowski noted in JazzTimes magazine, "Guitarist-composer Gabriel Vicéns, a leading light of Puerto Rico's jazz scene, flaunts a modernist sensibility on his impressive debut as a leader." In 2015, Vicéns released his second studio album "Days," on Greg Osby's influential record label Inner Circle Music. The record was co-produced by trumpet giant Alex Sipiagin, and features Sipiagin himself, David Sánchez, and percussionist Paoli Mejias. The recording also garnered acclaimed reviews including 4 stars in Downbeat magazine and 4.5 stars in All About Jazz by music critic Mark F. Turner who stated, "A rising jazz guitarist... Vicéns has provided a splendid recording that conveys a clear representation of his culture and individuality." Gabriel Vicéns' most recent album, "The Way We Are Created,'' released in 2021 on Inner Circle Music, was co-produced by the great Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenón and explores a unique amalgamation of modern jazz with folkloric music from Puerto Rico. The record features some of today's most accomplished musicians in the New York City jazz scene: Roman Filiú on alto saxophone, Glenn Zaleski on piano, Rick Rosato on bass, E.J. Strickland on drums, and Victor Pablo on percussion. Music critic Roger Farbey from the British magazine Jazz Journal noted, "The meticulously constructed compositions benefit from canny arrangements utilising all the instruments in a perfectly balanced formation of tonality and harmonic colour." In addition to Vicéns' releases as a leader, he is co-leader of the free jazz/experimental ensemble, No Base Trio. Formed in collaboration with alto saxophonist Jonathan Suazo and drummer Leonardo Osuna in 2010 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, NBT has released two albums under the radical label Setola di Maiale. Their debut eponymous album was released in 2020 and their second studio album, NBT II, in 2022. Both records received praised reviews in prominent publications such as The Free Jazz Collective, Avant Music News, and Percorsi Musicali. Music critic Paul Acquaro observed, "It will pleasantly surprise you with its mix of melody and exploration." In 2022, Vicéns went to the studio to record an album of original chamber works including pieces for piano trio, wind quintet, and Pierrot ensemble. The record features some of the finest performers in the New York City classical scene and was released in Spring 2024 on the Milan-based record label Stradivarius. This is Vicéns' fourth studio album under his name and the first one to feature his work as a composer of contemporary classical music. Gabriel Vicéns received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Caribbean Music Studies and Performance from the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico where he studied with Fernando Mattina and graduated Summa Cum Laude as the first guitarist in the program. In 2017, he earned his Master of Music in Jazz Studies and Performance from Queens College, studying with Paul Bollenback. Between 2019 to 2021, Vicéns studied painting at The Art Students League of New York with color-field painter Pat Lipsky, occasionally assisting her in her studio. In 2022 he received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies and Performance from Stony Brook University under the direction of Ray Anderson. In addition, during his doctorate, Vicéns studied composition and worked closely with Daria Semegen. He dual focused his studies on the exploration of merging modern jazz with Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena, and composing contemporary classical music. Other composition teachers include Carlos Cabrer and Lois V Vierk. Vicéns is a recipient of the prestigious "New Jazz Works" grant from Chamber Music America, which he received in 2023." ^ Hide Bio for Gabriel Vicens • Show Bio for Leonardo Osuna Leonardo Osuna Sosa is a Puerto Rican drummer, composer, musical director, known for his work with The No Base Trio, Thought Experiment, Sr. Langosta and Loop Council. He appears on albums by Edén Cruz and Dianne Reeves. ^ Hide Bio for Leonardo Osuna
11/20/2024
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11/20/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Track Listing:
CD1
1. St [1] 11:08
2. St [2] 8:03
3. St [3] 14:28
4. St [4] 13:41
CD2
1. St [5] 20:53
2. St [6] 7:55
3. St [7] 28:51
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Collective Free Improvsation
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Trio Recordings
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